JP2002080017A - Sterilization device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent germ from being adhered near to a lower surface of a container or a location near the lower surface, and from being brought into a filling line and the filling line from being contaminated with germ and the like. SOLUTION: There is provided at least one of a lifting and transferring conveyor 14 for holding a lower surface or a portion except a location near the lower surface of a bottom segment 15d of a PET bottle 15 and transferring the PET bottle; an ultra-violet ray sterilization device 17 installed along a transferring line for the PET bottle 15 and sterilizing the surface of the PET bottle 15 with ultraviolet ray while radiating ultraviolet ray of one practical example of electromagnetic waves against the PET bottle 15; and a hot water injection device 18 mounted on the transferring line, applying heat against the PET bottle 15 and sterilizing the surface of the PET bottle 15 with heating. The lower surface of the bottom segment 15d of the PET bottle 15 and a portion near the lower surface are sterilized with ultraviolet ray or heat by the ultraviolet ray sterilization device 17 and a hot water injection device 18.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a PET bottle, a milk bottle, a beer bottle, a medicine bottle, a beverage can, a food can, a paper pack, a plastic pack, etc., which are filled with contents such as beverages, foods, and pharmaceuticals. The bottom surface of the container and its vicinity (including those whose bottom is formed integrally with the container main body and those which constitute the bottom by attaching a lid material or a sealing material to an opening provided on the bottom) are ultraviolet rays. The present invention relates to a sterilization apparatus for sterilizing an object to be sterilized attached to the lower surface of a container and / or the vicinity thereof by using at least one of sterilization means of sterilization by irradiation of electromagnetic waves and sterilization by heating.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, for example, natural water, coffee drinks, fruit drinks, milk, tablets, processed foods and the like are made of various materials such as plastic bottles (eg, PET bottles), glass bottles, steel cans, and the like. Filled into molded containers and supplied to the market as containerized beverages, containerized foods and the like. In such a beverage in a container, the inside and the opening of the container are washed and sterilized before filling the contents from the viewpoint of hygiene and the like.

As a sterilizing apparatus used for sterilizing such a container, for example, the one shown in FIG. 11 is known. The sterilizer shown in FIG. 11 is an ultraviolet sterilizer that sterilizes the inside and the opening of the PET bottle 2 as a container using the sterilizing power of ultraviolet rays. The ultraviolet sterilization apparatus 1 includes a horizontally long container sterilization chamber 3, a conveyor 4 penetrating the container sterilization chamber 3 in the longitudinal direction, an ultraviolet lamp 5 installed on the upper part of the container sterilization chamber 3, and the like. Have been. The ultraviolet lamp 5 is disposed along and above the conveyor 4, and emits ultraviolet light from above to the PET bottle 2 placed and conveyed on the conveyor 4.

[0004] The ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet lamp 5 irradiates the upper surface of the PET bottle 2, enters the inside of the container from the opening thereof, and irradiates the inner surface with the ultraviolet light. As a result, the inside and the opening of the container are sterilized by the ultraviolet rays, and the sterilized container is filled with predetermined contents. Thereafter, a cap that has been sterilized in advance with ultraviolet light or the like is attached to the opening of the container filled with the contents and sealed, thereby completing the production of the bottled beverage.

In the production of such beverages in containers, there are roughly the following two types of systems for supplying containers such as PET bottles 2 filled with contents. The first method is a method in which a container manufacturing device is provided in parallel with a beverage etc. manufacturing device, and the containers manufactured by this container manufacturing device are supplied as they are to a beverage etc. manufacturing line. In the case of the first method, for example, a blow molding machine for producing a container by blow molding a plastic such as polyethylene terephthalate (PETP) is used. In this blow molding machine, it is necessary to manufacture a container prior to a manufacturing process of a beverage or the like, and to form and stock the container without interruption so as to be in time for a content filling line and supply the container.

In the second method, a large number of containers are manufactured in advance by a container manufacturing company or the like using a blow molding machine or the like, and the containers are transported by transport means such as a truck and supplied to a beverage factory or a filling factory. It is a method. In the case of the second method, a facility for storing a large number of containers manufactured in advance is required, and a packing operation for transporting the containers and an operation for opening the packing are required. When manufacturing beverages and the like, the transported package is opened and a large number of containers are supplied to the production line at once, and containers are supplied one by one to the filling line and the like.

[0007]

However, in the ultraviolet sterilizer 1 as described above, the ultraviolet lamp 5 is placed above the PET bottle 2 conveyed by the conveyor 4.
Is installed, and the ultraviolet lamp 5
The configuration was such that the upper part of the bottle 2 was irradiated with ultraviolet rays.
For this reason, only the upper surface and the inner surface of the PET bottle 2 are irradiated with the ultraviolet light, and the lower surface and the vicinity of the lower surface of the PET bottle 2 are not irradiated with the ultraviolet light. May survive. As a result, at the time of manufacturing a beverage or the like, bacteria and the like remaining on the lower surface or the like of the PET bottle 2 without being sterilized after being brought into the PET bottle 2 are transferred to the filling line. Etc.) is contaminated.

This point will be described in detail.
For sterilization of the PET bottle 2, only the inside of the bottle and its spout (opening) were targeted, and the lower surface and the vicinity of the lower surface of the PET bottle 2 were not considered as sterilization sites. This is because the lower surface and the vicinity of the lower surface of the PET bottle 2 never touch the contents. Therefore, even if bacteria and the like are attached to the lower surface and the like, the contents filled in the bottle by the bacteria and the like. This is considered to be because the object is not contaminated, and the spout is not likely to be contaminated by the bacteria or the like.

However, in recent years, contamination of the filling line itself by bacteria and the like has become a problem. That is, PET bottle 2
Despite sterilizing the inside and opening of the container, contamination by bacteria and the like has appeared on the filling line of the contents. this is,
Recent improvements in beverage production technology have been remarkable in fruit beverages that do not use synthetic preservatives and that dislike heat treatment, and beverages that use natural water and the like as contents. In the filling line for such contents, attention must be paid to the fact that contamination by bacteria and the like spreads relatively quickly.

Therefore, even if the bottom surface of the PET bottle 2 or the vicinity of the bottom surface is covered with bacteria or the like,
The bacteria may be transferred to the filling line side. As a result, the filling line itself may be contaminated by bacteria or the like transferred from the lower surface of the PET bottle 2 or the like. When the filling line is contaminated in this manner, the contents are contaminated and filled in the container, and thus there is a problem of unsanitary condition.

Here, the fact that bacteria and the like adhere to the lower surface and the vicinity of the lower surface of the PET bottle 2 will be described. In the case of the above-mentioned first method, the temperature of the container itself becomes relatively high during blow molding, so that even if bacteria adhere, the bacteria rarely survive.
However, after the subsequent cooling step, the PET bottle 2
When the temperature falls below a predetermined temperature, bacteria floating in the air are attracted naturally or by charged static electricity, and adhere to the surface of the PET bottle 2. And PE
Bacteria and the like attached to the lower surface and the vicinity of the lower surface of the T bottle 2 are left without being subjected to sterilization and are brought into the filling line.

In the case of the above-mentioned second system, a large number of PET bottles 2 made in a container manufacturing factory enclose an outer body made of cardboard, a partition plate for fixing the container, or a container, for example. It is packed in a packaging box such as a resin film and temporarily stored in a warehouse or the like. Then, when necessary, it is taken out of a warehouse or the like, transported to a manufacturing plant for beverages and the like, and supplied to a production line for beverages and the like.

[0013] In this case, when storing in a warehouse or the like by storing it in a packaging material made of a corrugated cardboard exterior body, a partition plate, or a resin film, at the time of the storage, the corrugated cardboard or other paper material, wood such as a frame, resin film Mold bacteria (for example, ketomium “Chaetomium Globosum”) that feeds on the PET bottle 2 adhere to the surface of the PET bottle 2. When the PET bottle 2 with the bacteria attached thereto is supplied to a production line for beverages or the like, the inside of the container and the spout are sterilized, and the contents of the sterilized PET bottle 2 are filled.

However, since the lower surface and the vicinity of the lower surface of the PET bottle 2 are not set as sterilization target portions immediately before filling, bacteria adhering to the lower surface and the vicinity of the lower surface are left behind without being sterilized. As a result, the bacteria attached to the lower surface etc. are brought into the filling line including the conveyor and the washing device, etc., and the containers are scattered causing the bacteria to be scattered. This was the cause of contamination and contamination of the contents. In particular, recent PET bottles 2 have a complicated shape due to the provision of a large number of irregularities in order to have a certain strength, while reducing the wall thickness as much as possible to reduce the weight. For this reason, dirt and the like easily accumulate in the concave portion on the outer surface of the PET bottle 2, and the bacteria that have entered the concave portion survive and are brought into the filling line. In the case of a glass container, fine irregularities are provided on the lower surface or near the lower surface for reasons such as stability and slip prevention.

Incidentally, what is attached to the PET bottle 2 and brought into the filling line includes, for example, molds such as black mold. In addition, since heat-resistant and heat-resistant acid-resistant bacteria such as soil bacteria also adhere to the packaging container and the like, these bacteria may be brought into the filling line via a container such as the PET bottle 2. In the case of these bacteria having resistance to heat or bacteria having resistance to chemicals, it cannot be said that sufficient sterilization work has been performed only by heat sterilization or sterilization by chemicals alone.

That is, when using a container that is sensitive to heat,
It is necessary to pay close attention to the adjustment of the heating temperature, and it is difficult to apply heat sterilization. As a result, as a sterilization means for containers weak to heat, only sterilization with chemicals is often performed, and in this case, bacteria having heat resistance remain in the container. In addition, when a container that is vulnerable to chemicals is used, only sterilization by heating is performed, so that bacteria having chemical resistance remain in the container.

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and has at least one of an electromagnetic wave sterilizing means and a heat sterilizing means provided so that an electromagnetic wave sterilizing target can be sterilized against an electromagnetic wave weak. Perform sterilization by heat for sterilization targets that are weak to heat, and perform both electromagnetic sterilization and heat sterilization for sterilization targets that are strong against either electromagnetic waves or heating, so that the lower or lower surface of the container It is an object of the present invention to prevent bacteria and the like from being brought into the filling line through the vicinity and prevent the bacteria and the like from contaminating the filling line.

[0018]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and the like and to achieve the above object, the sterilization apparatus of the present application transports a container while holding the lower surface of the container or a portion other than near the lower surface. Container conveying means, and an electromagnetic wave sterilizing means installed on or near the conveying line of the container and irradiating electromagnetic waves to the lower surface and / or near the lower surface of the container to sterilize the surface of the container with electromagnetic waves; and At least one of heat sterilization means for applying heat to the lower surface of the container and / or the vicinity of the lower surface to sterilize the surface of the container with heat; and providing electromagnetic wave sterilization means and / or heat sterilization means for the container. The present invention is characterized in that at least one of electromagnetic waves and heat is sterilized on a sterilization target attached to the lower surface and / or the vicinity of the lower surface.

With such a configuration, in the sterilizing apparatus of the present application, an object to be sterilized such as mold or bacteria adhered to the lower surface or the vicinity of the lower surface or both surfaces of the container is subjected to electromagnetic sterilization (particularly, ultraviolet sterilization) by electromagnetic wave sterilizing means. Is mainly,
Including sterilization by some visible light and other electromagnetic waves. ) And heat sterilization by heat sterilization means, so that the object to be sterilized is prevented from adhering to the lower surface or near the lower surface of the container and being brought into the filling line of the contents. It is possible to prevent a product, a production line, and the like from being contaminated by a sterilization target.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 to 10 show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing the entire configuration of a sterilization apparatus according to the first embodiment, FIG.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line SS of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line TT of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 5A to 5F are process explanatory diagrams of a beverage production line having a sterilizer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a sterilizer according to the second embodiment, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 6,
8 is a sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 6, FIG. 9 is a block diagram for explaining a sterilizing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an aseptic filling device provided with a sterilizing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a sterilizing apparatus 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a horizontally long sterilizing chamber 11 having a tunnel structure, and two sterilizing chambers 11 at both longitudinal ends. A front conveyor 12 and a rear conveyor 13 into which the respective ends enter, a lifting transport conveyor 14 installed inside the sterilization chamber 11, and a container 15 transported by the lifting transport conveyor 14 are placed on top of a specific electromagnetic wave from above. Upper ultraviolet sterilizer 1 for sterilizing with ultraviolet light showing an example
6, a lower ultraviolet sterilizer 17 showing the first embodiment of the ultraviolet sterilizer for similarly sterilizing the container 15 from the lower part with ultraviolet light, and a second heat sterilizer for sterilizing the container 15 by heating by applying heat from the lower part. A hot water jetting device 18 and the like according to the first embodiment are provided.

The sterilization chamber 11 has side walls 11a and 11b opposed to each other at a predetermined interval in the left-right direction, and a ceiling 11c connecting the upper ends of the side walls 11a and 11b.
And a floor portion 11d. On one side wall 11a of the sterilization chamber 11, two container outlets 20, 20 are provided at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. An opening / closing cover 21 is attached to each container outlet 20 so as to be openable and closable. Further, a limit switch 22 for detecting the open / close state of each open / close cover 21 is attached to the inner surface of the side wall 11a. A handle 21a is attached to each opening / closing cover 21, and by opening and closing the opening / closing cover 21 with the handle 21a, the upper and lower ultraviolet sterilizers 16 and 1 are operated by the function of the limit switch 22.
7 and the operation of the hot water jetting device 18 are automatically stopped.

The ceiling 11c of the sterilizing chamber 11 is provided with two rectangular openings 23, 23 extending in the longitudinal direction. Each of the openings 23 is detachably covered by an upper plate 24 slightly larger than the opening 23. A pair of handles 25, 25 are attached to the upper surface of each upper plate 24 at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. Further, a connector box 26 is detachably attached to an upper surface at one end in the longitudinal direction of each upper plate 24 by fixing means such as fixing screws. This connector box 2
Reference numeral 6 has a main purpose of supplying power to an ultraviolet lamp described later. The connector box 26 is formed of a rectangular parallelepiped housing, and a number of connectors 27 are detachably attached to a box plate 26a that closes an opening provided on an upper surface thereof.

The front conveyor 12 conveys a container 15 which is an object to be sterilized by ultraviolet light and heat and carries it into the sterilization chamber 11. The rear end of the front conveyor 12 is inserted into one end of the sterilization chamber 11 in the longitudinal direction. The rear conveyor 13 carries out the container 15, which has been subjected to the sterilization treatment by ultraviolet rays and heating, from the sterilization chamber 11 to the outside. The front end of the rear conveyor 13 is
It is inserted into the other end of the sterilization chamber 11 in the longitudinal direction.

The front and rear conveyors 12 and 13
Is provided with an endlessly connected transport medium 28 on which the container 15 is placed, and a support frame 29 that supports the transport medium 28 so as to be able to run in a circulating manner. The support frame 29 has flat portions 29 laterally developed on both sides of the transport medium 28.
a, 29a are provided. Examples of such front and rear conveyors 12 and 13 include various types of conveyor devices that place containers and convey them horizontally, such as belt conveyors, bucket conveyors, chain conveyors, neck conveyors, and air transfer conveyors. Can be applied.

The container 15 transported by the front and rear conveyors 12 and 13 is, for example, a PET bottle (polyethylene terephthalate bottle). The PET bottle 15 is placed vertically on the transport medium 28 of the front conveyor 12, and is transported in a substantially horizontal direction while maintaining the vertical state. At the rear end of the front conveyor 12, it is taken over by a lifting conveyor 14, which will be described later, and is conveyed to the front end of the rear conveyor 13. And lifting conveyor 1
4 to the rear conveyor 13 and the rear conveyor 1
3 and is conveyed in the horizontal direction while maintaining the vertical state.

The PET bottle 15 is a specific example of a container, and a resin bottle other than PET can be used as well as a glass bottle such as a milk bottle or a beer bottle, or a steel can or paper. Containers manufactured from various materials such as packs and plastic packs can be applied.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the PET bottle 15 has a cylindrical body 15a, a conical cylindrical shoulder 15b connected to the upper end of the body 15a, and a shoulder 15b.
b, a cylindrical mouth portion 15c continuous with the upper end, and a body portion 15a
And a bottom portion 15d that closes the lower end thereof, and these are integrally formed. A male screw into which a cap (not shown) is screwed is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion 15c of the PET bottle 15. Further, a portion where the mouth portion 15c and the shoulder portion 15b are continuous with each other has a flange portion 15e which is developed outward.
Are formed.

The PET bottle 15 having such a configuration
The front conveyor 1 is lifted by the lifting conveyor 14.
2 to the rear conveyor 13. In addition, the hole opened in the upper surface provided in the mouth part 15c of the PET bottle 15 is a spout. The contents are filled by the filling machine from the spout, and the contents are poured out from the spout at the time of eating and drinking.

The lifting conveyor 14 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of support rails 30 and 30 for supporting the PET bottle 15 by lifting and a pair of horizontally transporting PET bottles 15 supported by the pair of support rails 30 and 30 are provided. It has transport belts 31, 31 and the like. A pair of support rails 30, 3
Numeral 0 is a rod having a circular section having a length extending from the vicinity of one end to the vicinity of the other end in the longitudinal direction of the sterilization chamber 11, and PET.
The bottle 15 is arranged so that the flange 15e of the bottle 15 can be supported from both sides. Therefore, each support rail 30 has a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction (four locations in this embodiment).
, A fixed arm 32 projecting to the side is integrally fixed and attached.

A male screw 32 is provided at the tip of each fixed arm 32.
The male screw 32 a is inserted into a hole provided at the tip of the support bracket 33. Further, two nuts 34 are screwed into the male screw 32a of each fixed arm 32. By fastening the two nuts 34 together from both sides of the support bracket 33, the fixed arm 32 is fixed to the support bracket 33. The base end of each support bracket 33 is a ceiling 11c of the sterilization chamber 11.
It is fixed to. Thus, the pair of support rails 30 are mounted symmetrically via the plurality of pairs (four in this embodiment) of support brackets 33 forming a pair in the left-right direction.

The height of the pair of support rails 30 is set slightly higher than the height of the flange portion 15e of the PET bottle 15 conveyed by the front conveyor 12. At both ends in the longitudinal direction of the pair of support rails 30, 30 are provided with guide portions 30a, 30a that are bent downward as open outwards to facilitate the operation of introducing and leading out the PET bottle 15. The pair of support rails 30, 30 support the PET bottle 15 in a state of being suspended by supporting the flange portion 15e.

The pair of conveyor belts 31, 31 have substantially the same length as the pair of support rails 30, 30.
1 is formed by an endless rubber belt or the like extending from near one end to near the other end in the longitudinal direction. Each of the conveyor belts 30 is movably supported by a plurality of support frames 35 attached to left and right side walls 11a and 11b of the sterilization chamber 11, respectively, and is substantially parallel below the pair of support rails 30 and 30. Is set. The pair of transport belts 31 and 31 are opposed to each other with a gap slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the body 15 a of the PET bottle 15.
By the circulation traveling of the pair of transport belts 31, 31,
The body 15a of the PET bottle 15 supported in a state of being suspended by the pair of support rails 30, 30 is sandwiched from the side and conveyed along the pair of support rails 30, 30.

Above the lifting conveyor 14, two sets of upper ultraviolet sterilizers 16, 16 are provided. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper ultraviolet sterilizer 16 has an ultraviolet lamp 40 that emits ultraviolet light, a lamp holder that holds a plurality of ultraviolet lamps 40, and is radiated from each ultraviolet lamp 40. A reflector 41 for reflecting ultraviolet rays, a lamp housing 42 for supporting the reflector 41, and the like. The lamp housing 42
It is formed of a horizontally long rectangular parallelepiped housing with an open lower surface, and has a large number of opening holes 43 in the upper surface and four side surfaces for allowing ultraviolet rays to pass therethrough.

Further, two handles 44 are provided on the upper surface of the lamp housing 42 at appropriate intervals in the longitudinal direction. Two engaging pins 45 are provided on the two side surfaces of the lamp housing 42 opposed to each other in a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction so as to protrude laterally at appropriate intervals in the longitudinal direction. I have. A reflection plate 41 is mounted inside the lamp housing 42 so as to be able to advance and retreat in the direction of the lower surface opening of the lamp housing 42.

The reflection plate 41 is formed of a horizontally long plate having a U-shaped cross section, and has a large number of opening holes for allowing ultraviolet rays to pass therethrough, like the lamp housing 42, on its upper surface and side surfaces. Have been. The main function of the reflector 41 is to reflect the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp 40 and increase the amount of ultraviolet rays directed toward the lower surface. For this reason, it is preferable that the inner surface of the reflection plate 41 be subjected to mirror finishing or the like so as to reflect ultraviolet rays well. At both ends in the longitudinal direction of the reflection plate 41, the same number of lamp holders as the number of the ultraviolet lamps 40 are formed.

The ultraviolet lamp 40 supported on the reflector 41 via a pair of lamp holders has a wavelength of 1 nm to 400 nm.
Among ultraviolet rays having a wavelength range of about nm (nanometer), particularly, a wavelength of 254 nm (strictly, 253.7 n
m) A germicidal lamp which emits a germicidal line having a strong line spectrum in the vicinity. This ultraviolet lamp 40 is, for example,
It comprises a quartz glass tube or an ultraviolet transmitting glass tube that transmits light of 290 nm or less, a pair of bases for closing both ends of the glass tube, electrodes attached to each base, and the like.

The ultraviolet ray generator which is a source of the ultraviolet rays is not limited to the ultraviolet lamp 40 of this embodiment, but is an ultraviolet ray having a wavelength within a range of 180 nm to 400 nm and having a wavelength of 5.0 ×. 10 ⁴ μW · s / cm ²
It is not limited to an ultraviolet lamp as long as the irradiation can be performed. For example, a light emitting diode or a semiconductor laser capable of emitting ultraviolet light can be used as the ultraviolet light generator. In addition, as a method of emitting ultraviolet rays, a configuration may be adopted in which the ultraviolet ray generator itself emits light and irradiates on the spot, or laser light is transmitted to an appropriate position using an optical fiber and one end of the optical fiber is transmitted. Ultraviolet rays may be applied.

In addition, any electromagnetic wave other than ultraviolet light can be used as the electromagnetic wave sterilizing means according to the present invention, as long as it has a sterilizing ability against bacteria and the like, similarly to ultraviolet light. As such an electromagnetic wave, for example, a wavelength of 4
Visible light and the like in the range of 00 nm to 480 nm can be mentioned, and even with such visible light, a bactericidal effect of bacteria and the like can be expected.

The cords derived from both ends of the above-mentioned ultraviolet lamp 40 are put together and penetrated from the upper surface of the lamp housing 42 through the protective tube 46 and led out of the housing. The protection tube 46 protects the cord derived from the lamp housing 42 from deterioration due to ultraviolet rays. The protective tube 46 has a lower end fixed to the upper surface of the lamp housing 42 and an upper surface
4 and is inserted into the connector box 26. In the connector box 26, the distal end of each cord is electrically connected to a receiving member of the connector 27.

The upper ultraviolet sterilizer 16 having such a configuration is attached to the upper plate 24 by two sets of support members composed of a combination of a support frame 50 and a mounting frame 51. The support frame 50 is formed in a U-shape, and a mounting screw is inserted into a hole of a fixing portion provided on the opening side, and the support frame 50 is fixed to the lower surface of the upper plate 24 by tightening the mounting screw. ing. Further, the mounting frame 51 is formed in a U-shape, and an adjustment screw 52 is integrally fixed to a central portion thereof.

The adjusting screw 52 of the mounting frame 51 is projected to the opposite side, and the adjusting screw 52 is
It is inserted through a hole provided at the center of the “0”. Further, two lock nuts 53 are screwed into the adjustment screw 52,
By adjusting the tightening position of the lock nut 53, the distance between the support frame 50 and the mounting frame 51 can be arbitrarily adjusted. The left and right mounting frames 51 support both longitudinal sides of the lamp housing 42 via engagement pins 45, respectively.

A lower ultraviolet sterilizer 17 is disposed below the front conveyor 12 among the two sets of upper ultraviolet sterilizers 16. This lower ultraviolet sterilizer 17 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 3, the ultraviolet lamp 6 has the same configuration as the upper ultraviolet sterilizer 16 and emits ultraviolet light.
0, a reflector 61 having a lamp holder for holding a plurality of ultraviolet lamps 60 and reflecting ultraviolet rays emitted from each of the ultraviolet lamps 60, a lamp housing 62 supporting the reflector 61, and the like. I have.

The lamp housing 62 is formed of a horizontally long rectangular parallelepiped housing having an open top surface, and is provided with a large number of opening holes 63 for passing ultraviolet rays on four side surfaces. Two engaging pins 64 are provided on two side surfaces of the lamp housing 62 facing each other in a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction so as to protrude laterally at appropriate intervals in the longitudinal direction. I have. This lamp housing 62
A reflector 61 is attached to the inside of the lamp housing 62 so as to be able to move forward and backward in the direction of the upper surface opening of the lamp housing 62. Although not shown, the reflection plate 61 is also provided with a large number of opening holes for allowing ultraviolet rays to pass through the side surface. The lower ultraviolet sterilizer 17 is configured to irradiate ultraviolet rays upward by engaging the engagement pins 64 with a pair of support brackets 65, 65 erected on the floor surface 11 d of the sterilization chamber 11. I have.

The lower ultraviolet sterilizer 17 is provided with a PET bottle 15 conveyed by the lifting conveyor 14.
Is irradiated with ultraviolet light on the lower surface and near the lower surface, and bacteria, mold, and the like adhering to the lower surface and near the lower surface are sterilized by the ultraviolet light. A hot water jetting device 18 is disposed downstream of the lower ultraviolet ray sterilizing device 17 on the production line. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the hot water jet device 18 heats the supplied water to increase the temperature to a predetermined temperature or higher, and stores a required amount of hot water. The hot water supplied from 67 is ejected and brought into contact with the lower surface of the PET bottle 15 and the vicinity of the lower surface, and is provided with a number of ejection nozzles 68 for heating.

The hot water supply section 67 has a heating section for heating supplied water to a predetermined temperature or higher, a tank section for storing a predetermined amount of hot water heated by the heating section, and the like. Hot water from the section or the tank section is selectively supplied to the ejection nozzle 68. A large number of ejection nozzles 68 are arranged in a row along the transport direction of the lifting transport conveyor 14, and one end is adjacent to the lower ultraviolet sterilizer 17 and the other end is adjacent to the rear conveyor 13. The hot water spouted from the spouting nozzle 68 is supplied to the PET bottle 15 conveyed by the lift conveyor 14.
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the ejection position is controlled in accordance with the timing, and a configuration in which a predetermined amount is always ejected regardless of the position of the PET bottle 15.

In place of the hot water jetting device 18 for jetting and heating hot water, the lower surface and the vicinity of the lower surface of the container may be heated by using another heating medium. For example,
Steam or hot air can be used as the heating medium. In this case, the device becomes a steam jetting device when using steam, and becomes a hot air jetting device when using hot air.

The sterilizing apparatus 10 having such a configuration is
For example, as shown below, PE before the contents are filled
Sterilization of the T bottle 15 can be performed. 1 and 2
As shown in the figure, the PET bottle 15 is
Is transported in a state of being stood on the transport medium 28, and is introduced into the sterilization chamber 11 of the sterilization apparatus 10. This PET bottle 1
When 5 reaches the rear end of the front conveyor 12, it is moved to the lifting conveyor 14 and conveyed in the sterilization chamber 11 to the rear conveyor 13 side.

That is, the PET bottle 15 is connected to the front conveyor 1
2 to the predetermined position, the flange 15
e, a guide portion 30 of the pair of support rails 30
is inserted, whereby the PET bottle 15 is hung with the neck part supported from both sides. At the same time, the body 15a of the PET bottle 15 enters the pair of conveyor belts 31, 31 and is sandwiched between the two conveyor belts 31 and guided by the support rail 30, so that the upper ultraviolet sterilizer 16 and the lower ultraviolet sterilizer 17 are separated. Is transported between

At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the mouth portion 15c and the shoulder portion 15b of the PET bottle 15 are irradiated with ultraviolet rays radiated downward from the upper ultraviolet sterilizer 16, and the PET bottle 15 The lower surface of the bottom 15d is irradiated with ultraviolet rays emitted upward from the lower ultraviolet sterilizer 17. The irradiation amount of this ultraviolet ray is 5.0 × 10 ⁴ μW · s / c at an ultraviolet wavelength of 253.7 nm.
m ² or more. When the amount of ultraviolet irradiation is 5.0 × 10 ⁴ μW · s / cm ² or less,
It becomes impossible to obtain a sufficient bactericidal effect by ultraviolet rays. On the other hand, the total value of the ultraviolet irradiation amount is 5.0 × 10
It is better to be ⁵ μW · s / cm ² or less. In this case, if the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet ray is 5.0 × 10 ⁵ μW · s / cm ² or more, the sterilization effect after that is not affected, which is uneconomical.

As a result, the bacteria and the like adhering to the surface and the external thread portion are sterilized by the ultraviolet rays irradiated to the outside of the mouth 15c, and the PET bottle 15 is irradiated by the ultraviolet rays irradiated to the inside of the mouth 15c. Bacteria and the like adhering to the inner surface are sterilized. At the same time, bacteria, mold, and the like adhering to the lower surface of the PET bottle 15 are similarly sterilized by the ultraviolet rays irradiated to the lower surface of the bottom portion 15d of the PET bottle 15.

The bacteria and the like to be sterilized at this time are bacteria and the like having a relatively weak characteristic to ultraviolet rays. Therefore, bacteria that are relatively resistant to ultraviolet light are transferred to the next step while remaining alive and attached to the surface of the PET bottle 15.

Next, the PET bottle 15 is transported by the lifting transport conveyor 14 and moves above the hot water jetting device 18. At this time, the mouth 15c of the PET bottle 15
For example, ultraviolet rays are further irradiated by the second upper ultraviolet sterilizer 16 to continue the sterilizing action by the ultraviolet rays. Therefore, ultraviolet sterilization of bacteria and the like attached to the mouth 15c and the inner surface of the PET bottle 15 can be performed more reliably, and bacteria and the like that are relatively resistant to ultraviolet light and adhere to the surface and the inner surface of the PET bottle 15 can be used. Can also be killed and sterilized.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
Hot water (or a heating medium such as steam or hot air) spouted from a hot water spouting device 18 (or a steam spouting device, a hot air spouting device, etc.) is hung on the lower surface of the bottom 15d of the bottom 5, and the lower surface is heated and sterilized by the hot water. Is done. As a result, PET bottle 1
Bacteria and molds that adhere to the lower surface of 5 and survive, that is, bacteria and molds that have relatively high resistance to ultraviolet rays but are weak to heat can be sterilized and killed by heat. . As described above, by performing the heat sterilization continuously while the sterilization effect by the ultraviolet rays remains after the ultraviolet sterilization is continued, the sterilization effect can be doubled and the bacteria and the like can be more reliably killed. in this case,
The temperature of the hot water is preferably 90 degrees or more, but if the temperature is 55 degrees or more, a heating effect corresponding to the temperature can be expected. However, when the temperature of the hot water drops to 55 degrees or less, the heating effect of the hot water can hardly be expected.

The doubling of the sterilization effect is considered to be due to the following principle. In other words, when irradiating bacteria and the like with ultraviolet rays, most of the bacteria and the like are damaged by ultraviolet rays, and bacteria and the like weak to ultraviolet rays die as they are, but bacteria and the like resistant to ultraviolet rays survive in a damaged state,
The wound is closed as it is and played. However, after the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays, the wounds are heated as a result of applying hot water to the germs or the like as an effect, and heat is applied to the wound. As a result, the heat applied to the wound kills bacteria, mold, and the like, and can significantly enhance the bactericidal effect.

Bacteria having such a characteristic include the above-mentioned fungi-based bacterium, Chaetomium glob.
osum), black mold, koji mold and the like. The ketomium and the like are bacteria that propagate using pulp (paper) as a nutrient, and spread by attaching to cardboard (such as an outer box and a partition plate) generally used as a packaging container.
Therefore, if ketomium or the like is transferred from the cardboard to the PET bottle 15, the ketomium or the like is conventionally brought into the manufacturing plant via the PET bottle 15 or the like, and there is a possibility that the content filling line and the like may be contaminated.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, ultraviolet rays are irradiated on ketomium or the like to make a wound, and thereafter, hot water is applied to heat the wound, so that bacteria such as ketomium can be surely and sufficiently killed. Can be sterilized. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent bacteria and the like adhering to the lower surface of the PET bottle 15 from being supplied to a subsequent content filling line or the like in a living state.

As described above, the lower surface of the bottom portion 15d of the PET bottle 15 conveyed by the lifting conveyor 14 is sterilized by the lower ultraviolet sterilizer 17 installed in the middle of the PET bottle 15 and is continuously sterilized by the ultraviolet. Hot water (or steam or hot air from a steam jetting device or a hot air jetting device) is applied by the hot water jetting device 18 to be sterilized by heating. Therefore, both the heat-resistant bacteria and the ultraviolet-resistant bacteria can be effectively sterilized, and the target of sterilization such as ketomium and black mold adhered to the lower surface of the PET bottle 15 can be efficiently and reliably. Can be killed and sterilized.

The P thus sterilized and transported to the other end of the sterilization chamber 11 by the lifting conveyor 14
The ET bottle 15 is transferred onto the rear conveyor 13 and is placed upright on the transport medium 28 of the rear conveyor 13. When the rear conveyor 13 is driven, it is carried out of the sterilization chamber 11 of the sterilization apparatus 10 to the outside, and is supplied to a filling line for filling contents, for example, as the next step.

In the sterilizer 10, in a series of steps for sterilizing the PET bottle 15, the sterilization chamber 11 is configured as a tunnel structure which is a closed space. It can be prevented from entering. In addition, it is possible to eliminate the possibility that ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet sterilizers 16 and 17 leak out. Further, it is needless to say that a sterilization chamber having a shielding structure can be applied instead of the tunnel structure.

In the above-described embodiment, hot water is used as a specific example of the heat sterilizing means, and the hot water is used for the PET bottle 15.
It is configured to be hung on the lower surface of the heater, etc., but instead of hot water, heating steam is blown, heated hot air or hot air is blown, heating by microwave irradiation, heating by laser light irradiation, infrared or far infrared irradiation Heating, heating by glow discharge and other various heating means can be applied.

Next, as an application example of the sterilizing apparatus 10, PE
An embodiment of a beverage production line for producing a bottled beverage by filling a beverage as a content into a T bottle 15 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, the beverage production line includes a loading step A, a sterilizing step B, a cleaning step C, a filling step D, a cap attaching step E, and a packing step F. In this case, the PET bottles 15 are manufactured in a place different from the beverage production line, and the required number of PET bottles 1
5 and the cap are automatically supplied to the beverage production line.

The loading step A shown in FIG.
This is a step of carrying the T bottle 15 into the production line. In the carrying-in step A, the PET bottle 15 is placed on the front conveyor 12 and transported to the sterilization chamber 11 as shown in FIG. The PET bottle 15 arriving at the sterilization chamber 11 is transferred from the front conveyor 12 to a lifting conveyor 14, and is moved by the lifting conveyor 14.
Is transported inside.

The next sterilization step B is a step of sterilizing the PET bottle 15 before filling with the contents by the sterilizer 10. In this sterilization step B, PET bottle 15
Are a pair of support rails 3 of the lifting conveyor 14.
0, 30 and lifted from the front conveyor 12 and conveyed by being pinched by a pair of conveying belts 31. As a result, the outer and inner surfaces of the mouth portion 15c at the upper end and the inside of the bottle receive the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays radiated from the upper ultraviolet sterilizer 16.
Thereby, bacteria, mold, and the like adhering to the outer and inner surfaces of the mouth portion 15c and the inside of the bottle are sterilized by the ultraviolet rays.

The lower surface of the bottom portion 15 d of the PET bottle 15 and the vicinity of the lower surface are firstly provided by the lower ultraviolet sterilizer 17.
Of ultraviolet rays radiated from the ultraviolet lamp 40. Thereby, bacteria, mold, and the like adhering to the lower surface of the bottom portion 15d of the PET bottle 15 and the vicinity of the lower surface are sterilized by the ultraviolet rays. Next, when the PET bottle 15 passes above the hot water jetting device 18, the lower surface and the vicinity of the lower surface are immersed in hot water and sterilized by heating. Thereby, bacteria, mold, and the like adhering to the lower surface of the bottom portion 15d of the PET bottle 15 and the vicinity of the lower surface are sterilized by heating with hot water.

As a result, not only bacteria and molds that are sensitive to ultraviolet light and bacteria and molds that are weak to heat, but also bacteria that are strong against ultraviolet light but weak against heat and bacteria that are strong against heat but weak against ultraviolet light are both killed. Can be sterilized. Therefore, a synergistic effect between sterilization by ultraviolet rays and sterilization by heat can be expected, and a device with high sterilization efficiency can be provided. Further, not only the sterilization of the mouth 15c of the PET bottle 15 and its vicinity, but also the sterilization of the lower surface of the bottom 15d and the vicinity of the lower surface are simultaneously performed, so that bacteria and molds adhering to the lower surface and the like are removed in the next step. Can be prevented. The PET bottle 15 thus sterilized is transferred from the lifting conveyor 14 to the rear conveyor 13 and is conveyed to the next cleaning step C.

In the cleaning step C, the PE is
This is a step of cleaning the inside of the T bottle 15. In the cleaning step C, the PET bottle 15 is washed by, for example, sterilized water being injected from the injection nozzle 70a of the cleaning device 70 while being conveyed by the conveyor 71. Thereby, the inside of the PET bottle 15 is washed away with the sterilizing water, and the washing operation is performed. At this time, in the cleaning step C,
Since the sterilization is sufficiently performed in the sterilization step B in the preceding stage, it is possible to perform a relatively simple washing operation.

The next filling step D is a step of filling the PET bottle 15 with a beverage as a content using, for example, a rotary filling machine (filler) 72. In the filling step D, the PET bottle 15 is filled with contents such as, for example, natural water, fruit juice beverage, coffee beverage, and the like by the filling nozzle 72a of the rotary filling machine 72 while being conveyed by the conveyor 73. When such contents are raw materials that dislike heat sterilization in particular, it is necessary to strictly prevent bacteria from being introduced together with the supply of the PET bottle 15. Since not only the portion 15c but also the lower surface of the bottom portion 15d is sufficiently sterilized, it is possible to reliably prevent bacteria, mold, and the like from being brought in with the supply of the PET bottle 15.

The next cap attaching step E is a step of attaching the cap 75 to the mouth 15c of the PET bottle 15 by the cap attaching device 74. In the cap attaching step E, the cap 75 is attached to the mouth 15 c by the cap attaching device 74 while the PET bottle 15 is being conveyed by the conveyor 76. The mouth 15c of the PET bottle 15 is sealed by the cap 75, whereby the production of the bottled beverage is completed.

The bottled beverage manufactured as described above is transported to the next packing step F. This packing process F
In this step, a predetermined number of bottled beverages as products are packed in a packaging box 77 such as a cardboard box. The bottled beverage packed in this manner is shipped to the market in a state of being placed in a packaging box 77.

In the sterilizing apparatus 10 of the embodiment described above, the bottom 15d and the mouth 15c of the PET bottle 15 are sterilized simultaneously, but the bottom 15d and the mouth 15c are sterilized.
The sterilization of c may be performed separately and independently. That is, the upper ultraviolet sterilizer 1 that sterilizes the mouth portion 15c of the PET bottle 15 at a position before or after the sterilizer 10 without installing the upper ultraviolet sterilizer 16 in the sterilizer 10.
6 may be provided independently to sterilize the mouth 15c of the PET bottle 15 separately. Further, the lower ultraviolet sterilizer 17 and the hot water jetting device 18 may be provided at a stage subsequent to the step of cleaning the container.

FIGS. 6 to 8 show the second embodiment of the sterilizer of the present invention.
The following shows an example. The sterilizing apparatus 80 shown in this embodiment includes a rotary conveyor 81 provided between the front conveyor 12 and the rear conveyor 13, and the rotary conveyor 81.
Ultraviolet sterilizer 82 which is an ultraviolet sterilizer in relation to
And a hot water jetting device 83 which is a heat sterilizing means. That is, the idea is to attach an ultraviolet irradiation device and a heating device to a general container cleaning device (rinser machine). In this case, the heating device may be configured to put high-temperature water inside the container and heat the bottom. Also, this second
In this embodiment, the same parts as those in the above-described first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, the sterilizing apparatus 80 includes a rotary conveyor 81 having a substantially circular shape when viewed from the top, and a front conveyor 12 having a rear end connected to a supply portion 81a of the rotary conveyor 81. , Discharge section 8 of rotary conveyor 81
1b, a rear conveyor 13 having a front end connected thereto, two ultraviolet sterilizers 82 installed in the first half of the rotary conveyor 81, a hot water jetting device 83 installed in the latter half of the rotary conveyor 81, and the like. It is configured. The container to be sterilized by the sterilization device 80 is the PET bottle 15 similar to the above-described first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6, the rotary conveyor 81 has a main guide rail 84 which is formed in a substantially circular shape.
And a large number of mounting brackets 85 for supporting the main guide rail 84 at predetermined positions, and a large number of movable members 86 that are detachably gripped for the PET bottle 15 and are guided by the main guide rail 84 to move in the circumferential direction. And inner and outer guide rails 87 and 88 for slidingly changing the posture by contacting the movable member 86 and a bottle guide rail 89 for supporting the body 15a of the PET bottle 15 held by the movable member 86. It is provided with.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a large number of support arms 84a are attached to the main guide rail 84 at appropriate intervals in the longitudinal direction. Each support arm 84a is inserted through mounting holes of a large number of mounting brackets 85 mounted on a main frame (not shown).
Each nut 84b is screwed. This nut 8
4b, the main guide rail 84 is fixedly supported on the main frame via the mounting bracket 85,
It is set in a substantially horizontal state. A pair of upper and lower outer support brackets 90, 90 and a pair of upper and lower inner support brackets 91, 91 are also fixed to each mounting bracket 85 by fixing screws 92a, 92b, respectively.

The inner support bracket 91 is attached so as to sandwich the main guide rail 84 from above and below.
An outer support bracket 90 is attached to the outside so as to sandwich the inner support bracket 91 from above and below. The movable member 86 movably attached to the main guide rail 84 includes a pair of traveling wheels 86b and 86b rotatably supported by the base plate 86a, a support arm 86c provided integrally with the base plate 86a, This support arm 86
c, a pair of gripping claws 86 rotatably attached to the tip of
d, 86d, etc. A pair of gripping claws 86d, 86
A spring 93 is extended between the pair of holding claws 86d and 86d by the spring force of the spring 93.
d is constantly biased in the closing direction.

A pair of running wheels 86b, 86 of the movable member 86
b is attached so as to sandwich the main guide rail 84 from both sides. By rotating the running wheel 86b, the movable member 86 is moved in the circumferential direction along the main guide rail 84. A pair of inner guide rails 87, 87 are in contact with the support arm 86c of the movable member 86 so as to sandwich it from both sides. Further, the movable member 8
A pair of outer guide rails 88, 88 are in contact with the pair of gripping claws 86d, 86d so as to sandwich the same from both sides.

By adjusting the positions of the inner and outer guide rails 87 and 88, the PET bottle 15 placed on the front conveyor 12 and transported in a vertical state can be moved by 90 degrees during a predetermined transport distance. It can be tilted to a horizontal orientation as shown in FIGS. The inner and outer guide rails 87 and 88 are attached to a pair of inner support brackets 91 so that their lengths can be adjusted.

That is, the same number of fixed arms 87 a as the inner support brackets 91 are attached to the inner guide rail 87. Each fixed arm 87a is attached so as to penetrate an insertion hole provided at the base of the inner support bracket 91, and lock nuts 87b are screwed on both inner and outer sides thereof. By adjusting the tightening positions of the two lock nuts 87b, it is possible to change the amount of protrusion of the fixed arm 87a and adjust the position of the inner guide rail 87.

Similarly, the same number of fixed arms 88 a as the inner support bracket 91 are attached to the outer guide rail 88. Each fixed arm 88a is attached so as to penetrate an insertion hole provided at the tip of the inner support bracket 91, and lock nuts 88b are screwed on both inner and outer sides thereof. By adjusting the tightening positions of the two lock nuts 88b, the amount of protrusion of the fixed arm 88a can be changed to adjust the position of the outer guide rail 88.

The same number of fixing arms 89a as the outer support brackets 90 are attached to the bottle guide rail 89. Each fixed arm 89a is attached so as to penetrate an insertion hole provided at the tip of the outer support bracket 90, and lock nuts 89b are screwed on both inner and outer sides thereof. By adjusting the tightening positions of the two lock nuts 89b, the amount of protrusion of the fixed arm 89a can be changed to adjust the position of the outer guide rail 89.

The ultraviolet sterilizer 82 disposed outside the rotary conveyor 81 having such a configuration has substantially the same configuration as the lower ultraviolet sterilizer 17 in the first embodiment described above. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the ultraviolet sterilizer 82 includes a plurality of ultraviolet lamps 60 and a reflecting plate 61.
And a lamp housing 62 and the like. The two ultraviolet sterilizers 82 are arranged in front of the rotary conveyor 81. Then, the PET transported in the horizontal state
Ultraviolet rays are emitted from the lateral direction toward the lower surface of the bottom surface 15d of the bottle 15, and bacteria, mold, and the like attached to the lower surface and the vicinity of the lower surface of the PET bottle 15 are sterilized by the ultraviolet light.

The hot water jetting device 83 disposed on the rear side of the rotary conveyor 81 has substantially the same configuration as the hot water jetting device 18 in the first embodiment described above. That is, a hot water supply unit 67 (not shown) and a large number of ejection nozzles 6
8 and so on. The hot water jetting device 18 jets hot water from the lateral direction toward the lower surface of the bottom surface 15d of the PET bottle 15 conveyed in the horizontal direction, and heats bacteria, mold, and the like attached to the lower surface of the PET bottle 15 and the vicinity of the lower surface. Sterilize.

One end of the front conveyor 12 is connected to the supply section 81a of the rotary conveyor 81 having such a configuration, and the PET supplied from the front conveyor 12 is provided.
While the bottle 15 is conveyed by the rotary conveyor 81,
Ultraviolet sterilization and heat sterilization of bacteria and mold attached to the lower surface and the vicinity of the lower surface are performed in a combined manner.

That is, the PET bottle 15 is conveyed while being rotated while being guided by the guide rails 87, 88 and 89, with the mouth 15 c being caught by the rotary conveyor 81. The PET bottle 15 that has been sterilized in this way is discharged from the discharge portion 81b of the rotary conveyor 81, and is conveyed to the outside from the rear conveyor 13 having one end connected to the discharge portion 81b. The sterilizing apparatus 80 having such a configuration can also provide the sterilizing apparatus 10 described above.
The same effect as described above can be obtained.

In the second embodiment, after the PET bottle 15 has been changed to a horizontal orientation by changing its posture, ultraviolet rays are radiated from the sides and hot water is applied.
As in the first embodiment described above, it is needless to say that ultraviolet sterilization and heat sterilization can be performed from below without changing the posture of the PET bottle 15. Further, a configuration may be employed in which a heating medium such as high-temperature water, steam, or hot air is blown into the inside of the container, and the surface of the container is heated by the heat of the heating medium. Further, the PET bottle 15 is tilted obliquely so that the bottom 15d can be seen, and the bottom 1d is formed.
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which an ultraviolet sterilizing means and a heat sterilizing means are installed at a position facing 5d to perform sterilization.

When a container without a neck portion such as a PET bottle 15, for example, a can made of steel, plastic or other material is to be sterilized,
Instead of a transporting means such as a belt conveyor, a transporting means such as a bow chute which is surrounded by a plurality of guide rods and which drops in a designated direction by its own weight can be applied. Furthermore, the sterilization apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to such a transporting means, and various transporting means other than those described above can be applied.

Next, a third embodiment of the sterilizing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This sterilizer 1
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a sterilizer 100, and FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an aseptic filling device provided with the sterilizer 100. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 9, the sterilizing apparatus 100 includes a UV irradiation zone 101 for irradiating molds adhered to the container 15 with ultraviolet rays, and a container 15 positioned downstream of the UV irradiation zone 101. And a heat treatment zone 102 for heating molds adhered to the surface (the heat treatment zone 102 may be omitted). In the heat treatment zone 102, a heating device 103 is provided as a heating means for molds attached to the container 15, and the heating device 103 applies hot water, steam or hot air to the container 15, and adheres to the container 15 by the heat. The molds are heated. In the heat treatment zone 102, a drying treatment zone 104 is provided so as to be continuous. In the drying processing zone 104,
A drying device 105 for supplying hot air or hot air is provided, and the drying device 105 applies hot air or hot air to the container 15 to evaporate water such as hot water or steam remaining in the container 15 to dry the container. .

Further, a washing treatment zone 106 and a content filling zone 107 are provided at a stage subsequent to the heat treatment 102. The cleaning zone 106 is where the dust, dirt, foreign matter and the like attached to the container 15 are washed away. Also,
In the content filling zone 107, where the container 15 is filled with the content, a product 108 is manufactured by filling the container 15 with the content.

With this configuration, molds attached to the container 15 can be sterilized as follows. First, the container 15 is placed in the UV irradiation zone 101.
And is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Thereby, the container 1
As for the molds adhering to 5, those having low resistance to ultraviolet light are killed, while those having strong resistance to ultraviolet light are damaged even if they do not die.

Next, the container 15 is
And hot water, steam or hot air is applied by the heating device 103. At this time, hot water, steam or hot air is applied to the container 15 upside down. This allows
Among the molds attached to the container 15, the molds that have not been killed by the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays are killed by applying heat from the scratches caused by the ultraviolet rays. At this time, the container 15
Is turned upside down to prevent hot water or steam from entering the container 15. As a result, molds attached to the container 15 are effectively sterilized.

Next, the heating device 1 in the heat treatment zone 102
The container 15 to which hot water, steam, or the like has been applied by 03 is transferred to the drying treatment zone 104 and dried by applying hot air or hot air by the drying device 105. Next, the container 15 is transferred to the cleaning processing zone 106, where dust and dirt are removed.
Foreign matter is washed away. And the content filling zone 10
7 and the container 15 is filled with the contents and the product 10
It is set to 8. In addition, as a description of the heat treatment zone 102,
The hot water, steam or hot air is supplied to the container 15 by the heating device 103.
Hot water, steam or hot air
You may make it put in and heat it.

Next, the sterilizing apparatus 1 having such a configuration will be described.
The aseptic filling device 110 using 00 will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, the aseptic filling device 110 includes a pre-cleaning device 111 for pre-cleaning the carried-in container and filling the container with a sterilizing solution, and a plurality of opposite directions connected to the pre-cleaning device 111. Moving reciprocating vibration conveyor 112
A sterilizing agent removing outer cleaning device 113 connected to the reciprocating vibration conveyor 112 and cleaning the outside of the container after removing the sterilizing solution by turning the container upside down; An aseptic water washing device 114 provided for washing the inside of the container with aseptic water, a filling device 115 connected to the aseptic water washing device 114 and filling the container with contents, and a crowning device 116 for covering the cap And so on.

Further, in the aseptic filling device 110, a conveyor (not shown) is used as a means for transferring the container to each device. These conveyors and each device are covered by a tunnel 117 to which sterilized gas is supplied. At an appropriate place of the aseptic filling device 110, a sterilizing device as described above can be provided. In FIG. 10, first to fourth sterilizers 120, 121, 122, and 123 are disposed at four locations in FIG.

[0096] The first sterilizing device 120 is the aseptic filling device 1
It is installed at the entrance IN where 10 containers are carried in. This first sterilization device 120 includes an aseptic filling device 110
The container carried into the container is irradiated with ultraviolet light, and then hot water is applied to the container to sterilize molds attached to the container, and the container passed through the aseptic filling device 110 is sanitized without molds. State. Thus, the first sterilizer 12
No. 0 prevents molds from entering the aseptic filling device 110 via a container so that the aseptic filling device 110 can always maintain an aseptic state.

This aseptic filling device 110 has a partition 11
7 may be provided for partitioning. At this time,
The first sterilizer 120 can obtain substantially the same effect as the heating device by using hot water in the pre-cleaning device 111.

[0098] The second sterilizing device 121 is the aseptic filling device 1
It is installed at the exit EX where 10 containers are carried out. The second sterilizer 121 prevents molds from entering the aseptic filling device 110 from the outside via the outlet EX. The third sterilization device 122 includes a filling device 115 and a sterile water cleaning device 1 in the aseptic filling device 110.
It is installed at a stage prior to 14, and prevents the filling device 115 and the sterile water washing device 114 from being contaminated by molds. By preventing the contamination of the filling device 115 and the like, it is possible to prevent molds from being mixed into the content and filling the container when the content is filled into the container by the filling device 115.

The fourth sterilizing device 123 is provided in the aseptic filling device 110 after the filling device 115 to prevent the filling device 115 from being contaminated by mold. By preventing contamination of the filling device 115 by the fourth sterilizing device 123, the filling device 11
When filling the contents into the container in step 5, it is possible to prevent molds from being mixed into the contents and filling the contents into the container. Note that a sterilizing device may be provided inside the aseptic water washing device 114 or the filling device 115.

Next, a description will be given of a test example of mold sterilization performed using the above-described sterilizer.

Test Example 1 (1). Name of test Deactivation test of ultraviolet germicidal lamp against Bacillus subtilis (2). Purpose This test was performed to confirm the ultraviolet resistance of Bacillus subtilis. (3). Test bacteria and quantity Bacillus subtilis IFO13721 Date of acquisition: September 21, 1999

(4). Test conditions UV germicidal lamp: SGL-1000T5 HOSHI
N (manufactured by Toyoshin Kagaku Sangyo Co., Ltd.) 1 piece Distance from lamp tube wall: 300 mm UV value when stable: 2300 μW / cm ² (photometer Topcon UVR-2) 1 ml n = 3
(Results in Table: Number of bacteria in 1 ml) Test bacteria concentration: 10 ³ to 10 ⁴ cells / ml UV irradiation time (sec): 0, 26, 39, 78, 1
56 Ultraviolet irradiation dose (μW · s / cm ² ): described in the table Adjustment of test bacteria: Adjustment of dilution from obtained bacterial solution Measurement of number of bacteria: Agar dilution method Culture conditions Standard agar medium 35 ± 1 ° C. 96 hours culture

(5). Results Inactivation test results

[Table 1]

(6). Discussion As shown in Table 1, at a bactericidal rate under the condition of culturing for 96 hours, it is considered that irradiation of ultraviolet rays requires irradiation of 60000 μW · s / cm ² or more.

Test Example 2 (1). Name of Test Inactivation test of ultraviolet germicidal lamp against Aspergillus nigar (2). Purpose This test was performed to confirm the ultraviolet resistance of Aspergillus niger. (3). Test bacteria and quantity Aspergillus niger IFO4414 Date of acquisition: September 21, 1999

(4). Test conditions UV germicidal lamp: SGL-1000T5 HOSHI
N 1 Distance from the lamp tube wall: 300 mm UV value at the time of stability: 2300 μW / cm ² Test container / Bacterial solution volume: 90 mm watch glass / 1 ml n = 3
(Results in Table: Number of bacteria in 1 ml) Test bacteria concentration: 10 ² to 10 ³ cells / ml UV irradiation time (sec): 0, 7, 13, 26, 39 UV irradiation dose (μW · s / cm ²⁾ ): Described in the table Adjustment of test bacteria: dilution adjustment from the obtained bacterial solution Cell count measurement: agar dilution method Culture conditions Potato dextrose agar medium 27 ± 2 ° C
96 hours culture

(5). Results Inactivation test results [days of culture and degree of colony generation]

[Table 2]

(6). Discussion As shown in Table 2, there was no difference in the bactericidal rate between the culture for 96 hours and the culture for 48 hours. 90000μW · s / cm
^{In the case of 2} , a sterilization rate of 99% was obtained. Usually, the amount of ultraviolet irradiation required for sterilization of this kind of bacteria is 160,000 μW · s /
Since it is said to be about cm ² or more, it is considered that this result is due to the UV resistance of the bacterium being somewhat low or the number of initial bacteria being small.

Test Example 3 (1). Name of test Inactivation test of ultraviolet germicidal lamp against chaetomium globosum (pre-treatment with heat and hypochlorous acid) (2). Purpose Very resistant. Therefore, this time, hypochlorous acid (1 ppm, 3 ppm, 5 ppm) was applied to heat (treated at 30 ° C., 36 ° C., and 40 ° C. for 5 minutes each).
Was added and UV irradiation was performed to perform a test. (3). Bacterium to be tested and its quantity Ketomium mold ATCC62051 1 strain

(4). Test conditions UV germicidal lamp: SGL-1000T5 HOSHI
N 1 Distance from the lamp tube wall: 300 mm UV value when stable: 2300 μW / cm ² Test container / Bacterial solution volume: 90 mm watch glass / 1 ml n = 2
(Results in Table: Number of bacteria in 1 ml) Test bacterial concentration: 10 ³ to 10 ⁴ cells / ml UV irradiation time (sec): 0, 22, 24, 66 UV irradiation dose (μW · s / cm ² ): Preparation of test bacteria: Stained on a potato dextrose agar plate medium one week before the start of the test, cultured at 27 ± 2 ° C, and heat-treated at 30 ° C, 36 ° C, 40 ° C for about 5 minutes. After contacting each hypochlorous acid concentration for about 1 minute, UV
Irradiation was performed. Cell count measurement: agar dilution method Culture conditions Potato dextrose agar medium 27 ± 2 ° C
96 hours culture

(5). Results Test Example 3-A Inactivation test results [Days of culture and degree of colony generation] After each heat treatment at 30 ° C., 36 ° C. and 40 ° C. for about 5 minutes, the respective hypochlorous acid concentrations UV light was applied to the strains that had been brought into contact for about 1 minute.

[Table 3]

The test example 3-A was described in more detail as follows: 3-B to 3-D. Test Example 3-B Test conditions Heat treatment at 30 ° C for about 5 minutes + hypochlorous acid treatment

[Table 4]

Test Example 3-C Test Conditions Heat treatment at 36 ° C. for about 5 minutes + hypochlorous acid treatment

[Table 5]

Test Example 3-D Test Conditions Heat treatment at 40 ° C. for about 5 minutes + hypochlorous acid treatment

[Table 6]

(6). Discussion As shown in Table 3, Table 4, Table 5 and Table 6, there was no change in heat or chemical concentration, but 90% sterilization rate was obtained by UV irradiation. I was able to.

Test Example 4 (1). Name of Test Inactivation test of UV germicidal lamp against Chatomium globosum (2). Purpose Confirmation of UV resistance of ketomium mold and change in mold number at that time , Confirmation of UV disinfection effect on the order of 10/100/1000 molds. In addition, 48 hours / 96
Check the mold growth rate in the time culture. (3). Bacterium to be tested and its quantity Ketomium mold ATCC62051 1 strain

(4). Test conditions UV germicidal lamp: SGL-1000T5 HOSHI
N 1 Distance from the lamp tube wall: 300 mm UV value when stable: 2300 μW / cm ² Test container / Bacterial solution volume: 90 mm watch glass / 1 ml n = 5
Test cell concentration: (results in Table bacteria count in 1ml): 10,10 ^2, 10 ³ cells / ml UV radiation time (sec): 0,22,44,66 ultraviolet irradiation amount (μW · s / cm ² ): Described in the table Preparation of test bacteria: One week before the start of the test, cells were spread on a potato dextrose agar plate medium and cultured at 27 ± 2 ° C. Cell count measurement: agar dilution method Culture conditions Potato dextrose agar medium 27 ± 2 ° C
96 hours culture

(5-1). Result 4A-1 Inactivation test result Bacterial concentration: Test of 10 orders / ml

[Table 7] Incubation time 96 hours

(5-2). Result 4A-2 Inactivation test result [Cultivation days and colony generation degree] Bacterial concentration: Test of 10 orders / ml

[Table 8] *: Culture days a: 48 hours b: 96 hours

(5-3). Results 4B-1 inactivation test result cell concentration: 10 ² Order number / ml test

[Table 9]

(5-4). Result 4B-2 inactivation test results [number of culture days and colonies generation degree] bacteria concentration: 10 ² Order number / ml test

[Table 10] *: Culture days a: 48 hours b: 96 hours

(5-5). Results 4C-1 inactivation test result cell concentration: 10 ³ Order number / ml test

[Table 11]

(5-6). Result 4C-2 inactivation test results [number of culture days and colonies generation degree] bacteria concentration: 10 ³ Order number / ml test

[Table 12] *: Culture days a: 48 hours b: 96 hours

(6). Discussion As shown in Tables 7, 9 and 11, UV resistance of ketomium mold was low in the first order, and further bactericidal effect was hardly affected even when the UV amount was increased. , No change is seen. Further, as shown in Tables 8, 10 and 12, the number of molds once sterilized does not increase extremely in 96 hours.

Test Example 5 (1). Name of Test Inactivation test of ultraviolet germicidal lamp against Chatomium globosum (2). Objective To irradiate ketomium mold with strong ultraviolet rays and confirm the resistance by the irradiation. The mold growth rate of a fungus sterilized by a high ultraviolet irradiation amount in a 48-hour / 96-hour culture is confirmed. (3). Bacterium to be tested and its quantity Ketomium mold ATCC62051 1 strain

(4). Test conditions UV germicidal lamp: SGL-1000T5 HOSHI
N 1 Distance from the lamp tube wall: 300 mm UV value at the time of stability: 2300 μW / cm ² Test container / Bacterial solution volume: 90 mm watch glass / 1 ml n = 3
(Results in Table: Number of bacteria in 1 ml) Test bacteria concentration: 10 ³ to 10 ⁴ cells / ml UV irradiation time (sec): 0, 22, 44, 65, 8
7,109,130 UV irradiation dose (μW · s / cm ² ): described in the table Preparation of test bacteria: Bacterium which was spread on a potato dextrose agar plate medium one week before the start of the test and cultured at 27 ± 2 ° C. The body was tested. Cell count measurement: agar dilution method Culture conditions Potato dextrose agar medium 27 ± 2 ° C
96 hours culture

(5-1). Result 5-A Inactivation test result

[Table 13] Incubation time 96 hours

(5-2). Result 5-B Inactivation test result [Cultivation days and colony generation degree]

[Table 14]

(6). Discussion As shown in Table 13, the content of ketomium mold is 90% at 50 mW, 99% at 200 mW, and 99% even at 300 mW. Absent. Further, as shown in Table 14, there is almost no difference in the mold growth rate due to the difference in the culture time between 48 hours / 96 hours.

Test Example 6 (1). Name of Test Inactivation test of ultraviolet germicidal lamp against Chaetomium globosum (2). Objective To irradiate ketomium mold with very strong ultraviolet rays and confirm the resistance by the irradiation. Then, the mold growth rate of the fungus sterilized by the high ultraviolet irradiation in 48/96 hours of culture is confirmed. (3). Bacterium to be tested and its quantity Ketomium mold ATCC62051 1 strain

(4). Test conditions UV germicidal lamp: SGL-1000T5 HOSHI
N 1 Distance from the lamp tube wall: 300 mm UV value at the time of stability: 2300 μW / cm ² Test container / Bacterial solution volume: 90 mm watch glass / 1 ml n = 3
(Results in Table: Number of bacteria in 1 ml) Test bacteria concentration: 10 ³ to 10 ⁴ cells / ml UV irradiation time (sec): 0, 130, 174, 21
8, 261, 305, 348, 392, 435 Ultraviolet irradiation dose (μW · s / cm ² ): described in the table Preparation of test bacteria: One week before the start of the test, spread on a potato dextrose agar plate medium, 27 ± The cells cultured at 2 ° C. were tested. Cell count measurement: agar dilution method Culture conditions Potato dextrose agar medium 27 ± 2 ° C
96 hours culture

(5-1). Result 6-A Inactivation test result

[Table 15] Incubation time 96 hours

(5-2). Result 6-B Inactivation test result [Cultivation days and colony generation degree]

[Table 16]

(6). Discussion As shown in Table 15, almost the same results as in the case of high irradiation in Test Example 5 were obtained, and when the number was less than 100, the bactericidal effect was not improved even if irradiated with ultraviolet rays. . Table 1
As shown in FIG. 6, there is almost no difference in the mold growth rate depending on the culture time difference between 48 hours and 96 hours.

Test Example 7 (1). Name of test Inactivation test of ultraviolet germicidal lamp against ketomium mold (Chaetomium globosum) (2). Objective To confirm the resistance of ketomium mold to temperature and further irradiate ultraviolet rays in that state The mold growth rate of the fungus after 48 hours / 96 hours after sterilization is confirmed. (3). Bacterium to be tested and its quantity Ketomium mold ATCC62051 1 strain

(4). Test conditions UV germicidal lamp: SGL-1000T5 HOSHI
N 1 Distance from the lamp tube wall: 300 mm UV value when stable: 2300 μW / cm ² Test container / Bacterial solution volume: 90 mm watch glass / 1 ml n = 2
(Results in Table: Number of bacteria in 1 ml) Test bacterial concentration: 10 ³ to 10 ⁴ cells / ml UV irradiation time (sec): 0, 22, 24, 66 UV irradiation dose (μW · s / cm ² ): Preparation of test bacteria described in the table: One week before the start of the test, the cells were spread on a potato dextrose agar plate medium and cultured at 27 ± 2 ° C., and then cultured at 35 ° C., 40 ° C., 45 ° C., 50 ° C., 60 ° C. For about 5 minutes each, and UV irradiation was performed in that state. Cell count measurement: agar dilution method Culture conditions Potato dextrose agar medium 27 ± 2 ° C
96 hours culture

(5-1). Result 7-A Inactivation test result [Days of culture and degree of colony generation] Strains heat-treated at 35 ° C, 40 ° C, 45 ° C, 50 ° C, and 60 ° C for 5 minutes each

[Table 17]

(5-2). Result 7A-1 Heat treatment at 35 ° C for 5 minutes

[Table 18]

(5-3). Result 7A-2 Heat treatment at 40 ° C for 5 minutes

[Table 19]

(5-4). Result 7A-3 Heat treatment at 45 ° C for 5 minutes

[Table 20]

(5-5). Result 7A-4 Heat treatment at 50 ° C for 5 minutes

[Table 21]

(5-6). Result 7A-5 Heat treatment at 60 ° C for 5 minutes

[Table 22]

(6). Discussion As shown in Table 17, Table 18, Table 19, Table 20, and Table 21, ketomium fungi shows almost no bactericidal effect up to 50 ° C. On the other hand, as shown in Tables 17 and 22, at 60 ° C., a 99.9% bactericidal effect was obtained. Furthermore, the number of ketomium molds can be reduced by irradiating 50 mW or 100 mW of ultraviolet rays, and at an irradiation amount of about 150 mW, the number of molds can be reduced to zero or nearly zero. Therefore, in the case of ketomium mold, it has been clarified that by carrying out both ultraviolet sterilization and heat sterilization, the sterilization efficiency can be increased and the number of molds can be reduced to zero or a value close to zero.

Test Example 8 (1). Name of test Inactivation test of ultraviolet germicidal lamp against chaetomium mold (Chaetomium globosum) (thermal post-treatment) (2). Purpose Before the temperature resistance and resistance to ultraviolet irradiation of ketomium mold This time, the order was changed, so the order was changed this time, and the difference from the previous test was confirmed by irradiating ultraviolet rays first and then applying heat. At the same time, after irradiation with ultraviolet light and application of heat, the mold which remains or becomes zero (including those in which the mold is considered to have died due to the provisional death) is kept for 48 hours. Alternatively, confirmation was made as to whether or not the concentration increased in 96-hour culture. (3). Bacterium to be tested and its quantity Ketomium mold ATCC62051 1 strain

(4). Test conditions UV germicidal lamp: SGL-1000T5 HOSHI
N 1 Distance from the lamp tube wall: 300 mm UV value when stable: 2300 μW / cm ² Test container / Bacterial solution volume: 90 mm watch glass / 1 ml n = 2
(Results in Table: Number of bacteria in 1 ml) Test bacterial concentration: 10 ³ to 10 ⁴ cells / ml UV irradiation time (sec): 0, 22, 24, 66 UV irradiation dose (μW · s / cm ² ): Preparation of test bacteria: Stained on a potato dextrose agar plate medium one week before the start of the test, UV-irradiated the cells cultured at 27 ± 2 ° C, and then at 45 ° C, 50 ° C, and 60 ° C. Heat treatment was performed for about 5 minutes. Cell count measurement: agar dilution method Culture conditions Potato dextrose agar medium 27 ± 2 ° C
96 hours culture

(5-1). Result 8-A Inactivation test result [Days of culture and degree of colony generation] After UV treatment, heat treatment at 45 ° C, 50 ° C, and 60 ° C for 5 minutes each

[Table 23]

(5-2). Result 8A-1 Heat treatment at 45 ° C for about 5 minutes

[Table 24]

(5-3). Result 8A-2 Heat treatment at 50 ° C for about 5 minutes

[Table 25]

(5-4). Result 8A-3 Heat treatment at 60 ° C. for about 5 minutes

[Table 26]

(6). Discussion As shown in Tables 23 and 24, at about 45 ° C., the effect of 59% has been obtained by irradiating 100 mW of ultraviolet rays first. In addition, as shown in Tables 23 and 25, 50
Under the condition of ° C., even if the ultraviolet light is irradiated at 100 mW before the temperature is applied, the change from 45 ° C. is hardly observed. However, as shown in Tables 23 and 26, at 60 ° C., irradiation of ultraviolet rays at 50 mW was performed first, and the temperature was maintained at 60 ° C. for about 5 minutes by subsequent heating, whereby ketomium mold could approach zero. It could be confirmed. From this, after irradiating 50 mW or 100 mW of ultraviolet rays,
It was confirmed that ketomium mold can be effectively and efficiently sterilized by applying heat and maintaining the temperature at 60 ° C. for about 5 minutes.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the sterilizers 10 and 80, after performing the ultraviolet sterilization by the ultraviolet sterilizer, the heat sterilization by the heat sterilizer is performed. However, on the contrary,
It is good also as composition which performs heat sterilization by heat sterilization means first, and then performs ultraviolet sterilization by ultraviolet sterilization means.
Further, a configuration may be adopted in which ultraviolet sterilization by ultraviolet sterilization means and heat sterilization by heat sterilization means are performed simultaneously. Further, the ultraviolet sterilizing means and the heat sterilizing means only need to be arranged in series, and need not actually be arranged linearly, but may be arranged in a curved line. That is, the term "series" as used herein means continuous in a line, and does not need to be actually arranged on a straight line. Electromagnetic waves (for example, having a wavelength of 400 nm) having a bactericidal action against bacteria and the like, like ultraviolet rays.
To 480 nm or the like), and the invention is not limited to the ultraviolet light of the above embodiment.

The container according to the present invention is generally a bottle, a bottle, a can, or the like having no hole at the bottom, but the bottom with the hole is sealed with a sealing material, or a lid is attached. Containers configured to have a closed bottom are also included. Further, the temperature of the heating medium applied to the container is 55 ° C to 85 ° C.
When the temperature is relatively low, such as ° C., it is necessary to lengthen the time for applying heat. On the other hand, when the temperature of the heating medium is relatively high, such as 85 ° C. or higher, the time for applying heat is relatively short. Of course you can. Further, it is needless to say that the sterilization target is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Thus, the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the spirit thereof.

[0153]

As described above, according to the sterilizing apparatus of the present application, the lower surface or the vicinity of the lower surface or both surfaces of the container is subjected to at least one of electromagnetic wave sterilization by electromagnetic wave sterilization means and heat sterilization by heat sterilization means, preferably Since the target to be sterilized such as bacteria and mold is sterilized by both the electromagnetic wave sterilization and the heat sterilization, it is possible to prevent bacteria and mold from adhering to the lower surface and the vicinity of the lower surface of the container and being brought into the content filling line. be able to. As a result, it is possible to obtain an effect that the contents are not contaminated by bacteria, mold, and the like attached to the container, and a sanitary product can be manufactured.

Further, according to the sterilizing apparatus of the present application, both the electromagnetic wave sterilizing means and the heat sterilizing means are sterilized by the other sterilizing means while the sterilizing effect of the one sterilizing means is pending. Or by simultaneously sterilizing with both sterilizing means, both bacteria and mold having heat resistance but not UV resistance etc. and bacteria and mold etc. having UV resistance etc. but not heat resistant etc. Both can be sterilized. Therefore, an effect is obtained that bacteria, mold, and the like adhering to the lower surface or near the lower surface of the container can be surely and efficiently sterilized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sterilizer according to a first embodiment of the present invention, showing an overall configuration thereof.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the sterilizing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in a longitudinal section.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a section taken along line SS of the sterilization apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a section taken along line TT of the sterilization apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of working steps of a bottled beverage production line equipped with the sterilizing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of the sterilizer according to the present invention, and showing the entire configuration.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a section taken along line XX of the sterilizer shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a section taken along line YY of the sterilizer shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram for explaining a third embodiment of the sterilization apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an aseptic filling device provided with the sterilizing device of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a conventional sterilization apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

10,80,100,120,121,122,123
Sterilizer, 11 sterilizer, 12 front conveyor,
13 Rear conveyor, 14 Lifting conveyor,
15 PET bottle (container), 15a trunk, 1
5c mouth, 15d bottom, 17,82 ultraviolet sterilizer (electromagnetic sterilizer), 18,83 hot water jetting device (heat sterilizer), 30 support rail, 31 conveyor belt, 40,60 ultraviolet lamp, 41,61
Reflector plate, 42, 62 lamp housing, 67 hot water supply unit, 68 jet nozzle, 70 cleaning device, 7
2 rotary filling machine (filler), 81 rotary conveyor, 84 main guide rail, 86 movable member,
87, 88, 89 guide rail, 110 aseptic filling device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) B65B 55/08 B65B 55/08 A

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A container transport means for transporting a container while holding a portion other than the lower surface or the vicinity of the lower surface of the container; and a container installed on or near the transport line of the container and a lower surface of the container. And / or electromagnetic wave sterilizing means for irradiating electromagnetic waves to the vicinity of the lower surface to sterilize the surface of the container with the electromagnetic waves, and the lower surface of the container and / or
Or at least one of heat sterilizing means for applying heat to the vicinity of the lower surface to sterilize the surface of the container with heat, and the electromagnetic wave sterilizing means and / or the lower surface of the container by the heat sterilizing means. And / or a sterilization apparatus for sterilizing an object to be sterilized attached near the lower surface with at least one of electromagnetic waves and heat. 2. The sterilizing means includes both the electromagnetic wave sterilizing means and the heat sterilizing means, and performs electromagnetic wave sterilization and heat sterilization on the sterilized object simultaneously with both sterilizing means, or on the sterilized object. The sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the sterilization is performed by the other sterilization means while the sterilization effect of the one sterilization means is maintained. 3. The sterilization means according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of sterilization means of the same type or different types are arranged in series along the transport line in a sterilization chamber having a tunnel structure or a shielding structure. Or the sterilizer according to 2. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the disinfecting means is provided at a stage prior to the step of filling the container with the contents, at a position before or after the step of washing the container, or at an intermediate position during the washing. The sterilizer according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the sterilizer is used. 5. The electromagnetic wave sterilizing means having a wavelength of 180 n.
UV sterilizing means that emits ultraviolet light in the range of m to 400 nm, and the amount of ultraviolet irradiation of the container by the ultraviolet sterilizing means is 5.0 × 10 ⁴ μW · s.
/ Cm ² or more.
Or the sterilizer according to 4. 6. The heating of the object to be sterilized by the heat sterilizing means is performed by heating a heating medium at 55 ° C. or higher over the object to be sterilized.
Or the sterilizer according to 4. 7. The heating of the object to be sterilized by the heating and sterilizing means is performed by irradiating the object with electromagnetic waves.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the heating is performed at a temperature of not less than ℃.
Or the sterilizer according to 4. 8. The container has a container body such as a bottle, a can, a paper pack or a plastic pack filled with a beverage, food or medicine, and the bottom surface of the container body is a bottom portion integral with the container body. The sterilizer according to claim 1, further comprising a lid material or a seal material attached to the bottom.